The Warrior's Pet(56)

"I understand but it would only bring disease to wait." Giselle patted his shoulder.

"I know it is just a shame we were cheated out of this last rite as well." Ismat said sadly.

They left the temple and headed back out of the eerily quiet city. As they passed a walled garden Giselle heard laughter of children and stopped to soak in the happy sound.

"At least all is not lost." Ismat smiled.

Giselle nodded in agreement as she looked through the staggered bricks. Two little one were tumbling in the grass. Her eyes panned across the scene then she stopped cold.

A female was leaning into Kagan terribly close her hand rubbing his arm.

"How long do you think we will be here?" The woman asked.

"It is hard to say at this point." Kagan replied.

The woman could've been a relative but the way she touched and spoke to Kagan it was hard to misinterpret the gesture. Giselle was no fool. The female didn't look at Kagan the way a sister or cousin would.

Was Kagan married? Giselle looked at the little girl on the woman's lap and staggered back. She realized she knew so little about Kagan. Clearly something was going on here since the woman asked how long "WE" would stay in the decimated city and Kagan's hadn't rebuffed her.

Giselle wondered if Kagan had taken her as some sort of concubine to ease his need while away at battle. No he took her as a pet.

"Oh god." Giselle murmured. She almost doubled over and vomited into the street.

"What is wrong?" Ismat said with concern. "I knew you were working too hard."

"No please lets just go." Giselle whispered.





8 Military Maneuvers




Kagan quo Rordan

"Giselle was right Vigdis is amassing his army." Dagaa said grimly. "There will be no time to bring in enough warriors from the other provinces to combat the numbers he's already gathered."

Kagan shook his head his little pet had called it correctly. If he had gone into battle, they would have lost for sure, and the loss would've been complete.

"Communicate with Cyprian what we have learned. I want them here by the morning."

"We'll still be picking up the pieces when Vigdis comes to finish us off." Grainne closed his eyes in defeat.

Kagan needed to find Giselle. It was strange how he had come so quickly to value her perspective as well as hunger for her companionship.

It was getting late and everyone was exhausted. If any of them hoped to get any sleep before the looming battle they would have to do it now.

"None of us have clear heads. We need rest. Tomorrow we will plan with fresh eyes." Kagan said as he left.

The sun was setting as he exited the city walls to look for Giselle. The task of gathering all the dead was nearly complete, and the warriors were setting up the pyre that would begin early in the morning. Kagan looked among the females placing cinis on the foreheads of the little children, but he did not see Giselle's among them.

"Jolana where is Giselle?"

Jolana pointed to where the figure of the monk, Ismat, stood blessing the bodies, Giselle at his side.

Worry instantly assailed him. What was she doing with the monk? Had Ismat seen the conjugo marks on Giselle's shoulders? What did the servant of Kali think of her? Kagan's mind went round and round as he slowly approached the pair.

"Ismat, Giselle, it is late come to the manor for last meal. It is time to stop working for the day."

Giselle looked at Kagan with an odd closed off expression. He wondered what the monk had said to her to make her so distant. This was not good. Kagan wanted to give the male a piece of his mind for treating her harshly, but he kept his mouth shut. He needed the monk's approval if he ever hoped to formally bond with Giselle. He would have to ask Giselle what happened when they were alone.

Ismat gave Kagan a speculative glance before nodding and heading towards the manor.

Kagan desperately wanted to know what the monk's opinion of Giselle was, but if her expression was any indication, it didn't bode well. Kagan felt a tightening in his chest. If Ismat did not approve, then there was nothing Kagan could do but keep Giselle as a pet. He would no doubt be expected to mate Rahela even though he'd marked Giselle. Just the thought of it turned his stomach.

When a male marked his intended mate it bonded them on a level that was hard to explain. It was more than a visible claim. Even if his people didn't recognize the bond, it would still exist as long as he and Giselle both lived. It was like a string that tied them together. Kagan didn't know if he could accept it if he was denied Giselle.

"How are you?" Kagan asked quietly while the monk strode further ahead.

"Tired." Giselle said curtly.

"You were right about Vigdis. He is gathering more of his army than we originally realized."